Fuchsia plant named ‘FWUCA23-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Fuchsia  cultivar named ‘FWUCA23-0’ is disclosed, characterized a compact, upright plant habit, with a large number of flowers, with at least 2 flowers at every axil. Flowers face outward, and flowering response is not dependent upon day length. The new variety is a  Fuchsia,  typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Fuchsia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘FWUCA23-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The new variety originated from a cross pollination of the seed parent, an unnamed, unpatented proprietary selection of Fuchsia hybrid with the pollen parent a different unnamed, unpatented Fuchsia hybrid. The crossing was made during the Summer of 2009, at a research greenhouse in Munster, Germany. ‘FWUCA23-0’ was discovered by the inventor, Hubertus Volmary, a citizen of Germany, at the same research greenhouse during the Spring of 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘FWUCA23-0’ was first performed in Munster Germany, at a commercial greenhouse by vegetative cuttings in Summer of 2010. ‘FWUCA23-0’ has since produced several generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘FWUCA23-0’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘FWUCA23-0.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘FWUCA23-0’ as a new and distinct Fuchsia cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.     -   2. Highly floriferous plants.     -   3. Flowering response not dependent upon day length.     -   4. Distinctive purple to red-purple calyx with white corolla.     -   5. Single flowers.     -   6. Flowers more outwardly facing than pendulous.     -   7. 2 or more flowers emerging from each axil.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘FWUCA23-0’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a more upright plant habit.     -   2. The new variety has a much brighter pink calyx     -   3. The new variety has more flowers per plant.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘FWUCA23-0’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a more upright plant habit.     -   2. The new variety has a more compact plant habit.     -   3. The new variety has more flowers per plant.     -   4. The new variety has many more lateral branches per plant.     -   5. The new variety has a lighter pink corolla.     -   6. The new variety has a much brighter pink calyx

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘FWUCA23-0’ are similar to plants of the commercial variety Fuchsia ‘FWIN12-1’, application Ser. No. 13/815,431, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a brighter and deeper pink calyx     -   2. Comparator produces more flowers per plant.     -   3. Comparator variety produces stamens of a different shade of         pink.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘FWUCA23-0’ are similar to plants of the commercial variety Fuchsia ‘FWIDE16-0’, application Ser. No. 14/211,826, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a more upright plant habit.     -   2. The new variety has a more compact plant habit.     -   3. The new variety has more flowers per plant.     -   4. The new variety has many more lateral branches per plant.     -   5. The new variety has smaller flowers.     -   6. Flowers of the new variety are have a light pink corolla,         whereas flowers of the comparator have a purple corolla.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘FWUCA23-0’ grown outdoors in Santa Paula, Calif. This plant is approximately 30 weeks old, shown in a 1 gallon pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flowers.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘FWUCA23-0’ plants in a commercial greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 29° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions were approximately 2500 to 4000 fc of light. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Fuchsia hybrid ‘FWUCA23-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Propagation method: Vegetative Cuttings. -   Time to initiate roots: About 2 weeks at 15.degree. C. to 22.degree.     C. -   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 30 weeks from a rooted     cutting. -   Pot size of plant described: 1 gallon. -   Height: Approximately 20 cm from soil line of pot to top of foliar     and uppermost flowering plane. -   Plant spread: Approximately 33 cm. -   Growth rate: Rapid. -   Growth habit: Upright, compact. -   Branching characteristics: Free branching. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 14 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.5 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 30. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Axils flushed with             Greyed-Purple N186C.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible. -   Internode length: Average 1.4 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 12 to 16 fully expanded leaves per             primary lateral branch.         -   Average length.—4.7 cm.         -   Average width.—1.9 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Oblique.         -   Margin.—Shallowly crenate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.         -   Aspect.—Slightly cupped upward along margins, and overall             slight reflex downward over the entire leaf blade.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:             Near RHS Green 137C.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Green 143C. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 143D.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Petiole.—Length: Average 0.8 cm. Diameter: Average 0.15 cm.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Upper surface: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144A. Occasional faint, irregular flush with             Greyed-Purple N186C. Lower surface: Near RHS Green 138A.             Occasional faint, irregular flush with Greyed-Purple N186C.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Year round under temperate conditions.     Flowering is not dependent upon day length. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: At least 2 flowers emerge     singly from each axil. Flowers emerge at different times, resulting     in flowers of different maturity at each axil. Flowers are     symmetrical and composed of a corolla surrounded by a decorative     fused calyx. Flowers face outwardly. -   Flowers per plant: Approximately 40 fully open flower and 80 buds on     a mature plant. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 1 week for individual     flowers. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. -   Flower size:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 4.5 cm. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Oblong, with an inflated sphere at terminal end.         -   Length.—2.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.4 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 64A, flushed Greyed-Purple N186B             at tip. -   Corolla: Petals (measured from separation at top of tube).     -   -   Number.—4.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Broad deltoid to somewhat orbicular.         -   Aspect.—Slightly upwardly cupped.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, all surfaces.         -   Appearance.—Iridescent.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS N155B, veins             Red-Purple N74B. Lower surface: Near RHS N155B, veins             Red-Purple N74B. Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS             N155B, veins Red-Purple N66C. Lower surface: Near RHS N155B,             veins Red-Purple 64C. Fading: Upper surface: Near RHS N155B,             veins Red-Purple 64B. Lower surface: Near RHS N155B, veins             Red-Purple 61A. -   Calyx:     -   -   Form.—Funnelform base, separating approximately 25% from             base, to flare out into 4 large decorative deltoid shaped             sepals.         -   Fused section.—Length: Approximately 0.8 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Unfused section.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Sepal texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.         -   Appearance.—Irridescent.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 61B. Lower             Surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 61BA. -   Fragrance: Faint.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number (per flower).—8.         -   Filament length.—Average 2.0 cm.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 64B.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Globular. Length: Approximately 0.1 cm.             Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186A.         -   Pollen.—Amount: Not present. -   Staminoid structures:     -   -   Number (per flower).—4.         -   Length.—Average 1.4 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 64C. -   Pistils:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 4.8 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 4.2 cm. Color: Near RHS             Red-Purple 70D near base. Near apex, Red-Purple 64A.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near Red-Purple 64A. Ovary:             Length: Approximately 0.4 cm. Diameter: Approximatley             0.2 cm. Color: Near Green 143B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Fuchsia has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately −1     C to 38 C. -   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Fuchsia plant named ‘FWUCA23-0’ as herein illustrated and described. 